Cycling: Big In Japan

[RadNomad]

Been in Tokyo for a week. Here a few impressions:

Bicycles are everywhere! Cars are discouraged, parking fees are exhorbitant, road discipline is good, bike theft hardly happens... cycling is huge here.

 

[RadNomad]

Re:

An old roadie turned city hack. No front derailleur so stuck on the small chainring. Cut and inverted MTB riser bar.

 

[RadNomad]

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Track inspired steel single speed. Note old Spinergy front wheel and snowflake rear spokes. A pretty cool city bike.

 

[Mike Muz]

Re: Re:

An old roadie turned city hack. No front derailleur so stuck on the small chainring. Cut and inverted MTB riser bar.

Probably belongs to a keirin racer, his commute bike!

What a breath of fresh air! Or is it? Isn't a smog zone, or is that China I'm thinking of? :facepalm:

 

[RadNomad]

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Araya Muddy Fox with cantis and thumbies. Note rear u-brake under the chainstays.

 

[RadNomad]

Re: Re:

An old roadie turned city hack. No front derailleur so stuck on the small chainring. Cut and inverted MTB riser bar.

Probably belongs to a keirin racer, his commute bike!

What a breath of fresh air! Or is it? Isn't a smog zone, or is that China I'm thinking of? :facepalm:

Tokyo has quite good air quality due to less traffic, most people use the amazing efficient subway system which leads to lower air pollution. So cycling is no problem, or so it seemed to me. Certainly plenty of cyclists around.

In Jakarta, Beijing or Bangkok the pollution will kill you, in New Delhi every other road user will kill you (if the pollution doesn't). Kuala Lumpur is OK on weekends. Tokyo easily the cleanest of the lot.

 

[Mike Muz]

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Sounds great then, unless you're into human rights.

And being a human, why wouldn't you be?

I like the track bike though :xmas-cool:

 

[RadNomad]

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Plenty of these flat bar Fujis.

 

[RadNomad]

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Stumpjumper turned tourer.

 

[RadNomad]

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Singlespeed frames are much more popular here than anywhere else i've seen. Most cheapo bikes are left unlocked, while cooler bikes are often locked but many owners leave lights and computers attached without fear of theft. Cyclists don't seem to suffer much petty crime. My friends who live there confirmed as much.